[stompy]

My plot isn't ready to do much with at the moment (waiting  for the Glyphosate to do it's magic) so i was thinking of starting quite alot of things off in pots, trays, cell trays (etc) so i don't fall behind.
One of those things will be onions but i've heard they don't like root distubance, so will this be ok?
I've never really done any good with onions before, they usually end up quite flat and end up going bad by around december, so not sure what im doing wrong with them.

[mumofstig]

sets or seed, stompy? 

[stompy]

Sorry, Sets

[Runwell-Steve]

I had never heard of starting off onion sets in modules before, but I'm sure Monty did just that a couple of weeks ago on on Gardeners World.

[Dan78]

I am trying it this year.. half my onion sets are in the ground with some bfb and the other half are in the conservatory in modules.. These are having manure added to the soil but the manure was only added 2 weeks ago so thought i would try it

[Benandbill]

I would guess that cells would be better for seeds and small pots for sets?

[Nikkithefoot]

I started mine off in seed trays, just to start them rooting and shooting. 've now put them out.
Onions are alliums as are leeks. Think how leeks are treated when transplanted and they go on to do well.

I personally wouldn't worry about root disturbance of your onions, although as with any plant / seedling the less disturbance where possible the better. Getting the ground ready is the important bit, but you want to get things in as soon as possible afterwards.

[Jamie Butterworth]

I did it last year and it worked for me, i cant decide wether im doing it or not this year.

I had never heard of starting off onion sets in modules before, but I'm sure Monty did just that a couple of weeks ago on on Gardeners World.

Monty did it with shallot sets, same principle though

[stompy]

I rang my parents last night as i do from time to time and got talking to my dad about onion sets.
My dad has a plot next to my old plot on my old site, and i never noticed how he sowed his onions but he always had a good crop.
Well it turns out that Nikkithefoot is bang on with the comment that they are just like leeks (etc)
My dad told me that he starts his sets off in a tray of multipurpose compost and when he's ready to plant them out he pulls the set out of the compost, trims the roots to around 1inch long, then he has a mixture of water and lime (not the drink) to make a thin paste, he then dips the roots into the lime and plants the sets with a trowel.
I asked him if he was winding me up but apparently not, and the fact he still has very good looking onions still in store is in my opinion testiment to it working.
He said that the lime is supposed to stop moulds from forming on the onion and helps it store well.

So im sure you can guess how i will be doing my onion sets this year.

[Kristen]

I asked him if he was winding me up ...

I can very clearly envisage the conversation

[stompy]

Ha Ha, yeh, he doesn't catch me out very often, but when he does he gets me good 
Iasked my mum if it was true and she said it was, she mixes the lime up for him.
He's not aloud to touch anything that requires measuring. 

[Kristen]

About the root disturbance:

I grow Onions from seed in small cells (1" square at a guess). When I plant out the roots are all coiled round-and-round. I straighten them all out, and then plant them vertically (with a trowel) - as per Dr H.

Its hardly a "minimal root disturbance" method , although I probably don't actually break any/many.